Fruit quality parameters of some southern highbush blueberries (Vaccinium xcorymbosum L.) grown in Andalusia (Spain)

Physical and chemical parameters of fresh berries from three southern highbush (‘O’Neal’, ‘Sharpblue’ and ‘Misty’) blueberry cultivars grown in Huelva (Southwestern Spain) under two production systems were measured and evaluated. ANOVA applied to data yielded significant differences between production systems for mean fruit size and mean fruit fresh weight (P<0.05), although main effects on physical and chemical characteristics of fruit were due to cultivar. All three cultivars showed significantly different means (P<0.05) for fruit fresh weight, and all chemical characteristics. Stepwise discriminant analysis (SDA) for classification and identification of the cultivars based on physico-chemical properties of samples of fruits was performed. The model obtained gave high percentages of correct classification and prediction (81.1% and 78.4%, respectively). The variables with higher discriminating power were fruit titratable acidity, fruit size and fruit sugar content. Additional key words: discriminant analysis, ‘Misty’, ‘O’Neal’, production system, ‘Sharpblue’.